Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a meditation/stress relief technique and the trade mark used by series of globe-spanning organizations introduced into Western culture by founder "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi" (MMY, 1917-2008). MMY gained fame in the 1960s as the spiritual guru to the Beatles. Currently the singer Donovan and the film maker David Lynch are TM's most recognizable proponents.

Some former TM teachers have described the TM organizations as operating at the upper level as a cult or Vedic sect. Upper level training includes levitation, group mental action at a distance and similar claims not recognized by science. Five day meditation classes cost upto $2,500 and TM has become a big business, with its own University and town in Iowa, and branches in Lower Manhattan ("Global Financial Capital of New York") and elsewhere around the world. See Suggestibility, the Rick Ross Institute's TM page, and TM Free for a critical background to this organization, http://tm.org/ for TM's self description, and the other leaks in this series (This archive uses the popular ZIP compression program. If your computer does not have this program already, see http://www.7-zip.org/ or http://www.winzip.com/ ).

Part 3 of 11.

These are minutes of meetings of the directors of the Atlanta, Georgia regional organization that teaches the Transcendental Meditation program. Participants at these meetings include the "Raja of Atlanta," or head administrator, who during this period was Rogers Badgett, and the directors of local facilities, called "Peace Palaces."

Large parts of these meeting notes report on discussions on efforts to promote the TM program as well as other products in this region. Frequently mentioned are the need to build buildings to house "Peace Palaces" and working with builders to construct "Stapathya Veda" homes based on their particular architectural specifications. Also discussed are various activities associated with the David Lynch Foundation, including efforts to introduce the TM program into public schools. A number of specific instances of contacts made by TM organization leaders with media and authorities (courts, schools, etc.) in the process of promoting the TM program are documented in these notes.

The following are references to portions of the notes that may be of
particular interest to readers. Not all of the files are listed below.

2005_10_04_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Residence courses and "World Peace Assemblies" are to be held in facilities with good "Vastu," that is, in locations with a particular physical layout and orientation including, preferably, an east-facing entrance.

2005_10_05_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

In discussion of locating suitable locations in which to teach TM, it's mentioned that "Key is teaching in vastu," that is, TM should be taught in locations that conform to their specifications for physical layout and orientation.

2005_10_11_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of "Victory Day Celebrations." "Rastra Geet is the National Anthem of the GCWP."

2005_10_21_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (Vedic architecture); mention that they would like 20% of the cost of houses built under their direction to go to them.

2005_10_29_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of the difficulty of getting people to start the TM program because of the cost. Efforts to set up "Unity Clubs" for college students practicing TM. "TM program is like a really good laptop connected to the cosmic computer for spontaneous right action."

2005_11_04_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Report of presentation at Asheville Film Festival.

2005_11_15_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Report that Maharishi did a yagya (Hindu religious ceremony) to awaken all the devatas (deities or spirits). He then said all the devatas came to him and asked what they should do.

2005_11_22_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Reference to segregation of the sexes during TM refresher course. Men and women are to sit on opposite sides of the room.

Reference to guidelines for TM lecture locations. They are to be oriented within 5 degrees of North or East.

Question as to whether a woman may be allowed to give the TM introductory lecture to a group of men by herself.

2005_11_29_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Activity in Atlanta "picking up," attributed to "moving into Vastu."

2005_12_13_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

"Maharishi has said that New Orleans should not be rebuilt in that same area. Just relocate the city nearby and start rebuilding. Want to put the New back in New Orleans."

2005_12_27_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Reference to the teaching of the TM program in schools. "Raja Rogers wanted to emphasize that we want to maintain control of the situation in schools so that we avoid outside forces from eliminating TM from the curriculum."

2006_02_28_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of the upcoming visit of "Vedic Experts." It's pointed out that such experts give a "health evaluation" and that they may not diagnose or prescribe.

2006_03_03_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of the upcoming David Lynch Weekend at MUM and webcast to other locations. "David is to students as catnip is to a cat." Discussion of organizing local events presenting the webcast or featuring Lynch on DVD to attract nonmeditators.

Reports of attempts to locate land for "Peace Palaces." "Raja Rogers will find out if ladies can check (the meditation of) men if no re-certified Governors are available."

2006_03_07_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Mention of fundraising from Heifer International; it's not clear what exactly is meant by this reference.

2006_04_11_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Report that John Hagelin spoke at Morehouse College in Atlanta. "There was no understanding of what he represented -- TM. ... Need to let the organizers know that TM is unique among meditation groups." Discussion of how to deal with Ravi Shankar's group that says "that we are all part of the same tradition" using the same puja and mantras.

2006_05_16_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

"Maharishi wants to assemble 1000 acres to start the Global Financial Center in NY. Feeling is that due to the skewed vastu of Wall Street (even though people make a lot of money) the whole world is not taken into account -- many people in poverty."

2006_05_23_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Cryptic comment: "But now, put the majority of time on Vishnu."

2006_06_06_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Report that Rajas spent days attempting to locate hotels with "proper vastu" in which to stay when traveling and looking for land to buy. "Hotel should be NSEW on the grid. If door is east, but a few degrees to North, ok. Or if north, a few degrees to the east is okay. If the hotel has a west main entrance, you enter always from the east. We don't mind what other people are doing, we always use the east entrance."

How to use the commercial real estate website Loopnet for free: "You can use it for 2 weeks for free. Then sign up with another email address."

2006_06_13_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Reference to TM presentation being made to principal of Camp LeJeune High School by non-meditator teachers.

2006_08_29_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

"We really want to remember that there are over 25,000 people that have been trained in TM-Sidhi program (involving Yogic Flying) in the US."

2006_09_05_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Notes primarily concern the CBE ("Consciousness-Based Education") promotional tour and concerns about finance. "Can't ask for an unsecured loan from meditators for the tour. With millions having been lost, Maharishi wants to move everything ahead, but with tight controls on our expenses." "We need return on investment NOW. Those expenses will be very high and the rate of return may give us a return over a long term period. If you do enter it and don't get a good return, then your ability to enter bills may be eliminated."

"Revenue, revenue, revenue."

2006_10_04_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Details concerning redoing the TM website and setting up national call center. National 888 phone number receives 22 calls a day.

2006_10_11_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Regarding "Consciousness-Based Education" program to introduce TM into schools: "Until these programs are very secure we don't want to arouse any concerns about entanglement with the Christians."

2006_12_19_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Description of the procedure involved in teaching the TM program in schools financed by the David Lynch Foundation. "The school signs the letter of intent and the school profile. The letter has to be signed by principal, attorney, superintendent or all the major players. They fax these forms to David Lynch Foundation and the Foundation then seeks approval for this program from MVED. Once approved, then they can be taught at $625/person. Then school is entered into a lottery. The next lottery is end of Jan. If approved, two stages -- initially $625/person for top administrators, the faculty (1 teacher per 10 students), a small group of parents. Secondly, the students. If more teachers or parents who are not servicing the students are interested, they may get in on the $625 fee."

Reference to "negative websites" and their desire to eliminate them. :"We want a bigger presence on the web and not have the negative sites. Dr. Feldman and Dr. Morris are all working on this. Several schools have been lost by people going to negative websites. If this ever comes up, we just say, 'Look at the scientific evidence.'"

Candid comment regarding the ADHD and TM "study" the organization has attempted to promote via the press: "Sarina's research study only had 10 subjects, yet garnered lots of press."

2007_01_10_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Report of contact with a Florida school. "Plant City teachers were concerned with the fact that the students don't stay in one place for long and not concerned about language problems. So I said, once you put TM in the school, maybe students will stay there."

"We're working on getting support for our Internet marketing from the David Lynch Foundation. Making a strategy to get rid of the negative sites on the Internet."

2007_01_23_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Details regarding Lynch grants to schools and the mechanics of initiating large numbers of people.

2007_01_30_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

"Maharishi doesn't want to give the authority to allopathic medicine. Of course, if we need it, we use it, but judiciously. Maharishi has pointed out that medicine can kill people literally"

"Guideline for Vaidyas (Vedic experts) on tour -- we don't diagnose and don't prescribe. We have to go over that with the Vaidya and train him. We offer traditional 'AV health assessment.' They just say -- this dosha is in or out of balance. Use a form where the patient tells us the conditions that they are perceiving. That way we can talk about their condition, but we are not diagnosing because they already told us about it. More like health coaching."

"When it comes to diagnosing, vaidya can just suggest changes in lifestyle to help their digestion or whatever they have. Vaidya can have the MAPI catalog there and can point to something for a condition that they told us they had. Disclaimer on bottles protects us. If Vaidya thinks something stronger is needed, then they can say there's this other herb combo called MA., and you can choose. If vaidya gives them the choice, he is not really prescribing. That's the way we have had to handle it when there is not a doctor there."

2007_02_07_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

"Have received more calls. Someone saw a negative website. Someone else complained about the price."

Indirect reference to Malnak v. Yogi, the federal court case that held TM to be a religion and thus cannot be taught in public schools. "Jeff and Mary Murphy -- At one school, the principal wanted to know more about the court case and the ceremony. So Jeff and Mary went over Bill Goldstein's (TM organization attorney) document and did a presentation. Great result - Principal wanted to go on to the next step."

"When you are dealing with someone, you give as little info as possible. You don't want to open new doors for people to ask questions. Just answer the question they have asked."

2007_02_13_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of the National Call Center and the marketing of TM. "In business, it's not normally a good idea to allow a potential customer to put the cost of the product up front in the sales process as an objection. You don't want to put up money as an obstacle to learning TM. Good to get them into the setting of meeting with a Governor."

"Used to have average of 20 people at lectures. The rate of people starting seem to be irrelevant to anything that was going on at the lecture. Never been our exp that it's a conventional sales closing situation. The people most likely to start are those who were referred by a meditator. The other factors are intangible factors. The affluent people at lectures thank us heartily and then we don't see them. The one who starts is one who is more modest in their means, who scrapes it together."

"Found old notes from Maharishi from when the course fee was first increased "the wealthy people don't go to the poor store. They like designer everything. They like to hear a high price. We are not trying to target the masses so we don't have to feel guilty about losing people by initially mentioning the course fee."

2007_02_20_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of the vaidya (Vedic expert) tour and legal matters concerning avoiding practicing medicine without a license. "If you let the person choose you are not prescribing."

2007_02_27_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

"We have moved ahead with one of the schools that was exposed to negative websites."

2007_03_13_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Reference to introducing the TM program into an elementary school.

2007_03_20_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

More reference to legal issues regarding visit of vaidya (Vedic expert). "Bottom line is that we shouldn't be talking to anyone about a patient."

2007_05_01_meeting_Raja_Rogers-notes.pdf

Discussion of local school that is interested in teaching TM to 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Lynch's policy is that children must be 12 to start.